BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL 2022 | SHORT FILM REVIEW: "Choices"; They're Mine To Make
10/12 ForReel Score | 4/5 Stars
Everyday, people are met with decisions, some simple and others not so much. Either way, you would want to have some say in the matter; to be able to do as you please and make the decision that you want; making the choice that is best for you shouldn’t be a luxury. Director Erica Rose (Girl Talk) and writer Jess Jacobs (Long Weekend) come together to showcase the importance of body autonomy in their latest short, Choices.
Zazie Clarke (Jess Jacobs) is an everyday 27-year-old woman. As she’s transitioning into adulthood, an unexpected pregnancy proposes a difficult choice. Either decision is going to be costly and impact her career path. The film then splits in two, presenting alternate versions of her life, one where she chooses to keep the pregnancy and another where she decides to terminate it. Throughout both versions, Zazie develops a whole new worldview.
Zazie prefers to keep life simple and stay in her comfort zone. She’s doing her best to save up and open a vintage clothing store. Getting pregnant is almost like an alarm, telling her to step away from her passive tendencies and take force in dictating her future. Zazie is quite unrealistic about what is to come and Jacobs lends the part much personality. She adds a slight ignorance. Zazie has blinders on, she’s under the impression that everyone in her life will carelessly help her. When that turns out not to be the case, her blue skies attitude fades but in hand it lights a fire inside her.
Rose and Jacobs’s decision to showcase the outcome of both choices is incredibly impactful. Zazie doesn’t take each decision lightly. It is through abrasively honest conversations with her mother and best friend she is able to entirely understand her judgment. Borrowing the concept of something very much like the 1998 film Sliding Doors, and uses it to show how a simple decision can change someone’s life. Choices is never forceful or favoring of a certain storyline. Impartial to politics, the film just displays the differences with each path taken in this particular scenario. Jacobs offers a noble first venture into screenwriting. The dialogue is honest and each scene lends itself to be a great insight into the characters psyche. In both versions Zazie is able to form a deeper connection to the women in her life and obtain a better understanding of herself as well.
Editor Hanna Park (Shiva Baby) implements considerable efforts to keep each storyline distinct yet akin. Applying a warmer tone to scenes where Zazie has chosen to abort and a cooler pallet for when she is carrying through with the pregnancy. As well as utilizing a split screen to distinguish the slight differences during parallel moments. It helps the audience resonate with each of Zazie’s struggles.
Being pro-abortion is not about being in favor of ending all pregancies, but giving women the right to choose what they feel is best for them. Zazie is lucky enough to make her own choice. Whatever the outcome, it is her decision. Many women are losing that control over their body. On June 24th the supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade, removing the constitutional right to abortion. Stripping away the control of one’s bodily autonomy adds unimaginable layers of stress to an already difficult decision. Choices demonstrates the importance of being able to make your own decision when it comes to your body. No matter the choice may be, it should be yours to make.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference -2 | What does this mean?